| OCR Text |
Show eventually settled in 1885 by an agreement in which " compromise level" of the lake was agreed upon and a marker set. The marker is at elevation kk89 » 3h feet above sea level as referred to 1961 USC& GS mean sea level datum established for the locality. Whenever runoff forecasts predict the lake level will exceed that elevation, the outlet gates are opened prior to and during the flood inflow season to permit outflow discharges comparable to natural outflow conditions. This controlled operation continues until the lake level subsides to compromise level after the flood season. Even under this type operation, in extreme high runoff years such as 1922 and 1952 the lake level rose to slightly more than 3 feet above compromise level. A pumping plant at Pelican Point was built in 1902 by the water users to permit lowering of the lake water below its natural outlet elevation and thus increase the active storage capacity of the lake. The pumping plant has since been modified and enlarged several times. Its present capacity is about U00 to 1,050 c. f. s. depending on the lake level. The present pumps will lower the lake to about 9.3 feet below compromise level. Water released from the lake is used largely for irrigation in Salt Lake County and northwestern Utah County and some is used for industrial purposes, mostly for milling in western Salt Lake County by the Kennecott Copper Corporation. The low chemical quality of the lake water precludes its direct use for municipal purposes and many industrial purposes. Under present exchange agreements and operations, however, some of the lake water used for irrigation in Salt Lake County replaces some good quality water of mountain streams once used for the irrigation, permitting the latter to be used for municipal and industrial purposes in the county. Utah Lake is operated as a long- term regulatory storage reservoir. In the pattern of historical operation, the lake filled and spilled in all years of the early 1920' s; was drawn down after 192U; emptied in 193^ and again in 1935 » with major shortages in both of these years; was partially refilled in the late 1930' s; was drawn down to a low level again in 19^ 1; and thereafter gradually refilled and spilled in the high runoff year of 1952. The lake was again 178 |
